It's a coming of age song. Most of us can relate to both points of view, the father telling the son to settle down and the son looking to find his own way. This entire album, 'Tea for the Tillerman' is fire. It was one of those albums everyone had to have in their music collection.
Yusuf Islam commonly known by his stage name Cat Stevens was a British singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Yusuf has sold over a hundred million records world- wide. Here's a live performance and another one of Yusuf's very successful hit songs "Yusuf/Cat Stevens - Wild World (Live 1971)" He is a very gifted storyteller
Cat Stevens wrote many great songs. He is a true original. Combined with his unique voice, his music was an essential part of the soundtrack of my life in the early 70s, and he's still on my playlist today. I've recently watched some of his live performances on YT. If you could react to those, it would be great. (I don't know whether they'd be blocked.) Some favorites: Longer Boats, Peace Train, Morning Has Broken, Moonshadow, Wild World, Where Do the Children Play.
He's singing the song as the Father. the old guy is his son, the little girl across the table is his wife as he sees her (always), after all these years. In short his son "made it" and carried on the legacy, only to pass the baton.. this what the song is about in as short of a way it can be explained.. :)
*This song is 54 years old.* Except that back then it seems there were many more parent-child (not just father-son) abrasions as the child was growing up and moving on, it's aged beautifully. --- > I was 12 when this song came out in 1970 on the Tea for the Tillerman album. Pretty much everyone everywhere bought it as soon as it appeared in the stores. (This was WAY before the internet.) I still know all the words to almost every song he put out. That's the staying power of meaningful songs, right there. ❀
Cats in the Cradle - by Harry Chapin is another classic for all time same vibe and storytelling of our stages of life as children come and grow up on their own and a new family they create.
I found all of Cat Stevens (he changed his name to Yusuf Islam) very profound when I was a teen. I still love it. Please play more of his music. My very fave is Morning Has Broken.
6:45 Notice how they are both gone at the end of the video...IMHO, the narrative is actually about one person, namely Cat/Yusuf, lol...but the idea is that it's a man reflecting on his relationship with his father and his son...IIRC, the song was originally about a son deciding to go to war and his father trying to talk him out of it, but the son's idealism led him to go anyway, "If they were right, I'd agree. But it's them they know, not me." saying that he is not acting in the way the older generation did, and he will follow his principles or morals...(But as they say, all art is about interpretation, so take from it what you will).
We old people have already heard it and love it, young people really didn't discover much. Cat Stevens or Yusef as he is now know =n as played UK's Glastonbury Vintage stage at 75 recently. Listen to Where Do The Children Play.
Young people protesting Vietnam War, asking for Civil Rights, women’s rights, etc., while parents disapprove of college kids and people in 20’s who are frustrated. Video is confusing I think.
just for the record, old people already know this song, we grew up with Cat Stevens
Cat is singing from the Father and Son's perspective. When his voice gets a higher pitch, it's the son talking
Dang song was actually more powerful when I thought the dad was saying he can't father forever because he'll be dead eventually
It's a coming of age song. Most of us can relate to both points of view, the father telling the son to settle down and the son looking to find his own way. This entire album, 'Tea for the Tillerman' is fire. It was one of those albums everyone had to have in their music collection.
Yusuf Islam commonly known by his stage name Cat Stevens was a British singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Yusuf has sold over a hundred million records world- wide. Here's a live performance and another one of Yusuf's very successful hit songs "Yusuf/Cat Stevens - Wild World (Live 1971)" He is a very gifted storyteller
The old people have already heard this. Cat Stevens was a big hit in the seventies. I have his records and his lyrics are so relatable.
Cat Stevens wrote many great songs. He is a true original. Combined with his unique voice, his music was an essential part of the soundtrack of my life in the early 70s, and he's still on my playlist today. I've recently watched some of his live performances on YT. If you could react to those, it would be great. (I don't know whether they'd be blocked.) Some favorites: Longer Boats, Peace Train, Morning Has Broken, Moonshadow, Wild World, Where Do the Children Play.
This song and cat stevens were hugely popular back in the 70s and still is
Saddest and sweetest song there is. What a thing to hear
You can't go wrong with Cat Stevens... enjoy your journey 😅😊😮😅😅😊😊😊😊😊
He's singing the song as the Father. the old guy is his son, the little girl across the table is his wife as he sees her (always), after all these years. In short his son "made it" and carried on the legacy, only to pass the baton.. this what the song is about in as short of a way it can be explained.. :)
Cat is one-of-a-kind!! ♥
*This song is 54 years old.* Except that back then it seems there were many more parent-child (not just father-son) abrasions as the child was growing up and moving on, it's aged beautifully.
--- > I was 12 when this song came out in 1970 on the Tea for the Tillerman album. Pretty much everyone everywhere bought it as soon as it appeared in the stores. (This was WAY before the internet.) I still know all the words to almost every song he put out. That's the staying power of meaningful songs, right there. ❀
The entire Tea for the Tillerman album is magical
😊first verse from old man’s POV. The 2nd from the son’s POV.
Peace train, and Victor are both really good
Cats in the Cradle - by Harry Chapin is another classic for all time same vibe and storytelling of our stages of life as children come and grow up on their own and a new family they create.
I was going to recommend that too.
I am glad you enjoyed a Cat Stevens song from long ago.
Just perfect on so many levels
All my kids know I want this played at my funeral.
Great song. Used to cry to this when I was young.
I found all of Cat Stevens (he changed his name to Yusuf Islam) very profound when I was a teen. I still love it. Please play more of his music. My very fave is Morning Has Broken.
6:45 Notice how they are both gone at the end of the video...IMHO, the narrative is actually about one person, namely Cat/Yusuf, lol...but the idea is that it's a man reflecting on his relationship with his father and his son...IIRC, the song was originally about a son deciding to go to war and his father trying to talk him out of it, but the son's idealism led him to go anyway, "If they were right, I'd agree. But it's them they know, not me." saying that he is not acting in the way the older generation did, and he will follow his principles or morals...(But as they say, all art is about interpretation, so take from it what you will).
Cat Stevens is one of my wife's favorites
The father sings then the son sings then they take turns at background words.
1st verse, father. 2nd, so
Son.
We old people have already heard it and love it, young people really didn't discover much. Cat Stevens or Yusef as he is now know =n as played UK's Glastonbury Vintage stage at 75 recently. Listen to Where Do The Children Play.
The father is speaking when Cat steven's voice is low, when it is high, it is the boy talking
Stevens wrote this when he was 22, old head on young shoulders.
It's a father and son conversation.
Peace Train
Please listen to Cat Stevens, “How Can I Tell You”… powerful
if this is your vibe, you should try some Lobo
Young people protesting Vietnam War, asking for Civil Rights, women’s rights, etc., while parents disapprove of college kids and people in 20’s who are frustrated. Video is confusing I think.